Spokane, WA Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

At one point or another, everyone is a pedestrian. As the expense of driving and insuring a vehicle rise, more and more people choose to walk to their destinations. As the number of pedestrians increases, so do the number of pedestrian accidents. To see where the Spokane region ranks in terms of pedestrian collisions nationally, please go to this National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.

Despite safety improvements, pedestrian accidents are common in Spokane

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2012:

• 69% of pedestrians killed in 2012 were males;
• 73% pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas;
• 32% of all pedestrian fatalities occurred between 8:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.;
• 34% of pedestrians killed had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 g/dL or higher.

Pedestrian laws in Washington State

Both motorists and pedestrians can engage in behaviors that cause collisions. According to state pedestrian law as described by the State of Washington Department of Transportation -

Drivers must:

• exercise due care to avoid a collision with a pedestrian at all times.
• yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• stop or slow down before passing another vehicle stopped in a travel lane until the driver has determined whether that vehicle has stopped for a pedestrian.
• in the presence of a school crossing guard, wait for all persons including the guard to completely clear the road before proceeding.

Pedestrians must:

• use the sidewalk and the nearest crosswalk, pedestrian bridge or tunnel when possible.
• obey official traffic control devices.
• walk on the left side of the street facing traffic if no sidewalk is available.
• not cross an intersection diagonally unless the intersection is specifically designed for this.

Get information on pedestrian crashes from the Spokane Police Department

The Spokane Police Department offers information on accidents, and also provides information on obtaining a police report.  This department is a good resource for information after a pedestrian accident.

Washington State's Department of Licensing provides information on traffic laws and licensing and insurance requirements.

When someone is injured in a Spokane pedestrian accident, what needs to happen next?

In an injury accident, it is crucial to get appropriate medical treatment, regardless of the financial cost.

The major hospitals in the area include:

Sacred Heart Medical Center; Deaconess Hospital; Providence Holy Family Hospital.

As soon as possible, an injured person should contact their insurance company to find out how medical treatment is covered under their insurance policy.

When a pedestrian collision is serious or fatal, it is crucial to find a Spokane accident lawyer

When a crash is serious or a death occurs in Spokane, the next step is to find an experienced personal injury attorney to start the financial recovery process by launching an insurance claim. Major injury or wrongful death claims are complicated and difficult to manage. Having an injury lawyer on board is a great relief to injured people, or to the family left behind when an accident proves fatal.